The number of confirmed measles cases in Alberta is skyrocketedFrom 193 cases confirmed from May 1 to 313 cases on May 8 – a period of only one week.
Almost two -thirds of cases are in the southern part of the province, which includes Lethbridge, Taber and Medicine Hat.
And the actual number of cases in Alberta is probably much higher, according to the former director of medical health of the province, Dr. James Talbot, at a virtual press conference on Thursday, organized by the Alberta Medical Association.
“Because it takes time for measles to infect someone, cause symptoms, develop a rash and be reported after a laboratory test confirms it, the figures reported in Alberta are actually in the number of infections,” added Talbot.
A disease that was once considered Ontario where 197 cases of 19 in last week bear the number of confirmed cases to 1,440.
101 patients in Ontario have been hospitalized, of which 75 children and eight of them are intensive care.
“What we have seen at least in the past three weeks in Alberta is almost almost every week of new cases – so we are still in the expansion phase and no sign of this slowdown at least the next few weeks,” said Dr. Craig Jenne, specialist in infectious diseases at the University of Calgary.
The number of measles in Saskatchewan Also shows signs of explosive growth with the chief of medical health of this province, Dr. Saqib Shahab, confirming a total of 27 infections confirmed on Thursday – a leap of 15 cases in last week.
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“The age group is as low as five months – almost all cases, except one, are not vaccinated. We have had an exposure to infants who are more at risk and cannot be vaccinated because the families and the communities around them are not vaccinated and the vast majority of our cases are in children and adolescents of school age – up to 78% of them, “said Shahab.
“Two hospitalizations have been reported. So one in 20 is hospitalized, one in five can get other complications requiring medical care. So we are starting to see this,” added Shahab.
The percentage of children in Alberta who have not been immune or who have only been partially immune are also very high, said Talbot.
“On average, the percentage of children of less than two people who received the two recommended doses of vaccine in Alberta is 68%,” said Talbot.
“These are the government’s own figures, and it is considerably lower than the target of 95%. It is worse in the north, the south and the center with coverage rates of 50% or less.”
Facing intense criticisms not to do enough to encourage the Albertans to be immunized themselves and their children against measles, On Monday, the province’s Minister of Health announced an expansion of vaccination efforts With prolonged hours and availability without an appointment in certain clinics in the hardest affected parties in the province.
The province has also introduced a new early dose of measles vaccines for infants between six and 11 months – above the normal immunization calendar, which represents two doses of the vaccine between 12 and 18 months.
He also launched a new advertising campaign – in 14 languages - to promote vaccination.
“We have often relegated this disease to our culture to a simple infantile infection with which you treat (but) reality is that we know that on one in 10 cases will require a certain form of hospitalization. This may not require admission, but you will be presented in a hospital, “said Jenne.
“About one in 1,000 approximately, or perhaps more, will require admission and intubation of the intensive care unit.
“Between one and three children out of 1,000, end up losing their lives to this virus.“”
Although measles is often considered an infantile disease, the specialist in infectious diseases, Dr. Lynora Saxinger said that adults must also ensure that they are vaccinated, because not only could they infect others, but he can have very serious complications.
“Thus, most of the people who were aged 55 and less grew up in a world where measles decreased very quickly, and many of these people had a dose of vaccine because it was the recommendation at the time. Many of them are now at risk of obtaining measles and measles in adults can be quite significant, “said Saxinger. “It can be a fatal complication.
“This can be a very serious disease – it is not only a rash, it is a whole body disease and people can obtain a serious pulmonary disease, they can obtain hepatitis, encephalitis and another large characteristic is that post -mass, people can have a period of relative immune deficiency,” added Saxinger.
“The last thing I do not know if we have mentioned is that there is a late complication of measles called sububatic sclerotic panencephalitis (a deadly brain disorder), which actually occurs seven to 10 years after obtaining measles, especially if measles was acquired by a young child.”
“If you get one at three deaths for a thousand, every thousand cases, you continue to pay the price,” said Talbot. “But it does not end with the first thousands. This is the bill you pay every one thousand. And that is why prevention is so important.”
More information on measles, including symptoms, vaccinations and daily updates to experienced cases are available from Alberta Health, online Alberta.ca/measles.
Information on measles in Saskatchewan is also available online by Click here.
With Canadian press files.